[K-FOOD], week 4 of 10 - The Ultimate K-FOOD Guide: Matcha Desserts, Retro Ramen & Global Festivals!
Hello K-FOOD Lovers! BonoHyung is back with your weekly dose of the most delicious trends, hottest new products, and must-know news from the world of Korean food. This week is all about the perfect blend of modern and traditional, with a retro ramen making a comeback and earthy matcha taking over the dessert scene. Let's dig in!
📌 Table of Contents
📰 K-FOOD Trend News
K-FOOD Takes Center Stage at APEC Summit
This week, all eyes were on Gyeongju, South Korea, for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and K-Food was a main event! A special "K-Food Station" was set up, featuring food trucks from 13 top Korean food companies, showcasing everything from instant rice meals to traditional desserts. Brands like CJ CheilJedang, Nongshim, and Kyochon Chicken were on-site, offering global leaders and press a taste of why Korean cuisine is taking the world by storm. The event also highlighted the growing demand for diverse options, with a dedicated section for about 90 halal-certified export products like ramyeon and kimchi.
The Unstoppable Rise of Instant K-FOOD
The global craving for convenient and delicious Korean meals is stronger than ever. South Korea's food exports have hit a record high of over $8.48 billion in the first three quarters of the year. The main drivers of this incredible growth are processed foods, especially the world's favorite instant noodles, or 'ramyeon'. Ramyeon exports alone surged by nearly 25%, crossing the $1 billion mark. This trend is fueled by the Korean Wave (Hallyu) and younger consumers seeking authentic yet accessible flavors.
✨ This Week's New Product Reviews
Lotte Wellfood's "Matcha Dessert Series"
Matcha lovers, rejoice! Lotte Wellfood has just dropped a new "Matcha Dessert Series," and it's a green tea dream. The lineup includes the return of the popular Vinz Premier Matcha, a crispy chocolate biscuit filled with rich Jeju green tea cream. The real stars, however, are the new limited-edition items: the Premium Mon Chou Matcha and Strawberry, which boasts 25% more cream than the original, and the seasonal Premium Ghana Langue de Chat Matcha Chocolate, a delicate matcha cookie coated in decadent Ghana chocolate. These snacks perfectly balance the deep, earthy notes of matcha with just the right amount of sweetness.
🍻 BonoHyung's Pairing & Side Menu
Enjoy the Premium Mon Chou Matcha and Strawberry with a simple, unsweetened cold brew coffee to let the cake's flavors shine. For the Ghana Langue de Chat, a warm cup of roasted barley tea (Bori-cha) makes for a comforting and cozy combination.
Nongshim Ramen Big Bowl
Launched on October 27th, Nongshim is making its 60th-anniversary special ramen even more accessible with the new Nongshim Ramen Big Bowl. This cup noodle version packs the same rich and spicy beef broth and chewy noodles that made the original bag version a hit. Made with high-quality domestic Korean beef and rice, it's a premium meal on the go. The packaging is also a fun throwback, featuring a reinterpretation of a beloved 1975 illustration, making it a collector's item for K-Food fans.
🍻 BonoHyung's Pairing & Side Menu
This rich beef ramen screams for a classic side of crunchy, tangy kimchi. For a truly authentic convenience store meal, pair it with a simple triangle gimbap (samgak gimbap) and a bottle of banana milk to cool down the spice.
Samyang's Retro Throwback: "Samyang Ramen 1963"
Get ready for a taste of history! Samyang Foods has announced it's reintroducing a ramyeon fried in beef tallow for the first time in 36 years. The new "Samyang Ramen 1963" is a premium product designed to bring back the traditional, savory flavor that defined early Korean instant noodles. It features a separate liquid soup base made with rich beef bone broth, a first for this type of ramyeon in Korea. While it's slated for a November release, the announcement has already created a huge buzz among foodies who have long requested its return.
🍻 BonoHyung's Pairing & Side Menu
When this ramen drops, honor its rich, beefy flavor by adding simple toppings like sliced green onions and a soft-boiled egg. A side of yellow pickled radish (danmuji) will provide a perfect, sharp contrast to the deep, savory broth.
🏆 This Week's K-FOOD TOP Picks
1. Frozen Gimbap
Why it's hot: The viral sensation continues! Frozen gimbap is still flying off the shelves in U.S. supermarkets and beyond. Its convenience and deliciousness have made it a global phenomenon, proving that simple, traditional Korean food can become a worldwide star. It's the ultimate easy meal or snack for busy people everywhere.
2. Lotte's Matcha Dessert Series
Why it's hot: Lotte has perfectly captured the "matcha mania" trend with this new lineup. The combination of classic Korean snacks like Mon Chou with the rich, trendy flavor of Jeju matcha is a guaranteed winner. The limited-edition nature of these products is driving huge demand among snack lovers.
3. Yakgwa (Honey Cookies)
Why it's hot: The "halmae-nial" (Granny Millennial) trend is bringing traditional snacks back into the spotlight. Yakgwa, a classic honey cookie, has seen a massive resurgence in popularity, especially on social media. It's being reinterpreted in modern cafes and has become a popular, nostalgic souvenir for tourists and locals alike.
🌍 K-FOOD Craze: A Look at Global Favorites
| Region/Country | Popular K-FOOD | Reason for Popularity |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Buldak (Fire) Ramen, Frozen Gimbap, Mandu | The "Fire Noodle Challenge" on social media made spicy ramen a viral hit. Convenience and the influence of K-dramas have made frozen gimbap and dumplings household staples. |
| China | Traditional Sauces (Gochujang), Seafood (Seaweed), Snacks | Geographical proximity and cultural similarities in flavor profiles make traditional Korean ingredients very popular. Seaweed snacks are a healthy and popular choice for all ages. |
| Japan | Korean Seaweed, Kimchi, Tteokbokki | There's a high appreciation for Korean staple side dishes. The new female prime minister even mentioned her love for Korean seaweed. The sweet and spicy flavor of tteokbokki is also a huge hit. |
| Europe | Kimchi, Ramen, Low-Calorie Options (Bibimbap) | Driven by the K-wave in films and series, European consumers are increasingly interested in authentic Korean dishes. Health-conscious consumers are drawn to low-calorie, vegetable-rich options like Bibimbap. |
| Southeast Asia | Tteokbokki, Corn Sausage, Gimbap | The prevalence of Korean convenience store chains like emart24 and CU in countries like Malaysia has made Korean street food incredibly accessible and popular. |
📅 Global K-FOOD Expo & Pop-Up Schedule
Mark Your Calendars!
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Yeongho-Nam Traditional Market Expo
Date: Oct 31 - Nov 2, 2025
Location: Busan Citizens Park, Busan, South Korea
Details: A vibrant festival celebrating Korea's traditional markets, featuring local specialties, street food fairs, and cultural performances. A great place to find authentic, regional K-Food. -
Taste of Korea: 2025 Fall Edition
Date: Multiple dates in November 2025
Location: Sanford, Florida, USA
Details: A lively festival celebrating the best of Korean food, music, and culture. Expect authentic dishes, K-Pop performances, and cultural workshops. -
Asian Food and Music Festival (feat. K-Pop)
Date: Nov 7 - 8, 2025
Location: Orlando, Florida, USA
Details: A huge gathering focused on global street food and music, with a strong emphasis on K-Pop performances and Korean food vendors. -
Seoul K-Food Festival 'Knock Knock'
Date: Every Friday-Sunday until Dec 31, 2025
Location: Sejongno Park, Seoul, South Korea
Details: An ongoing weekend food truck festival in the heart of Seoul. A perfect spot to try trendy Korean street food and snacks.
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